The winter months can be pretty dead when it comes concerts around the Seattle area, especially with most bigger acts staying off the road to avoid bad weather. But 2014 is shaping up to be a notable exception

We’re flush with a bunch of chart toppers over the next few months.

Justin Timberlake packs KeyArena Friday Jan. 17.

There’s understandably plenty of anticipation about just how far Miley Cyrus will go when she brings her world tour to the Tacoma Dome Sunday Feb. 16 with Iconapop.

And pop’s reigning diva Lady Gaga shows the rest of them how it’s really done Wednesday May 28 at KeyArena.

For those of us who prefer a little more meat to our music instead of just meat dresses, Sting and Paul Simon share the stage for an evening of classics Wednesday Feb. 19 at KeyArena.

I’d much rather see a smaller show, and there are so many great ones to choose from.

Duval’s own Austin Jenckes makes a triumphant homecoming after his top 10 turn on the hit reality show The Voice, playing a three-night run at the Crocodile Cafe Jan. 8, 9 and 11.

Nuemos celebrates the club’s 10th anniversary with a week of exceptional shows starting Thursday Jan. 9 featuring top local acts including Telekinesis, The Posies, Hey Marseilles, and Brent Amaker and the Rodeo.

Also in January, I highly recommend the 40th anniversary of Los Lobos. The groundbreaking Latino rockers stage a special three night celebration Jan. 17-19 at the Triple Door.

A couple of other shows I have to plug include Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy with an intimate solo gig at the Neptune Jan. 22. On Feb. 1, Macklemore’s Same Love collaborator Mary Lambert shows what she can do apart from the Seattle superstar at the Showbox at the Market.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the annual PUSA fest with our beloved Presidents of the United States of America Saturday Feb. 15 at Showbox at the Market. As an added bonus, they’re coming out with a new album after all these years, so they promise to give us a lot more than just a whole bunch of Lump.

That’s just a sampling of some of the many fine musical offerings coming our way in the next few months, so you have no excuse to stay at home alone.

Seattle Sounds airs Sundays at 5 p.m. on KIRO Radio 97.3 FM. My New Year’s resolutions include reviving the blog as well.